B4.1 Adaptations to Environment

Habitat

The environment in which an organism, species, population lives

Habitat can be described by their geographical or physical location and by the type of ecosystem.

→ Abotic + Biotic

Community

A group of populations living and interacting with each other in an area.

Ecosystem

A community and its abiotic environment

Adaptations to Sand Dune

→ problem : dehydration

→ Adaptations

Sea oat

• Drought-resistant, shallow root system

• Dense interwoven roots to maximise the uptake of water (hold sand in place, prevent beach erosion)

• Narrow leaves reduce transpiration

• Stomata close for an extended period of time if the soil around them remains dry

Adaptations to Mangrove Swamp

• High salt concentrations in the mud

• Waterlogged, anaerobic soil

Red Mangrove → tropical and subtropical tree that grows along the salt water zone

• Prop roots extended above the water line

• Roots above the water line is is used to absorb oxygen.

• Roots below the water line filter salt out so the tree can get access to fresh water.

Tangled root growth under the trees provides a protective habitat for fish and other marine animals

The distribution of a species is influenced by

the range of tolerance to abiotic factors.

sessile organisms

organisms that stay in one place  and can be counted individually

example of marine ecosystem

Coral Reef

• 25% marine organism live in or around coral reef

• limiting factor : water clarity , water depth , pH , temperature ,Salinity

• symbiotic relationship between polyps and microscopic algae - Zooxanthellae

→ water depth : 2-45m , shallow for sun to penetrate

→ water clarity: clear so sun can penetrate for zooxanthellae to photosynthesis

→ temperature : 20-29. coral reef only survive in narrow temperature range. Global warming → water becomes warm , coral reef becomes stress → expel the symbiotic relationship zooxanthellae → result in bleached cora

→ pH : suitalbe salinity for for algae to grow . Increased acidity can cause coral bleaching, where corals expel the zooxanthellae

→ salinity : suitalbe salinity for algae to survive

Biomes

Biomes: groups of ecosystem that share similar abiotic conditions which in turn results in similar communities of plants and animals due to Climate conditions that characterize them.

/ Biomes are groups of ecosystems which are very similar due to similar abiotic factors, although they may be far apart geographically

Tropical forest: Warm humid (Highest temperature and precipitation) 

Temperate forest: Mild, seasonal

Taiga: Cold coniferous 

Grassland: Dry, open 

Tundra: Cold, permafrost (lowest temperature and precipitation) 

Hot desert: Arid, hot 

Ecosystems makeup biomes 

Adaptations to life in hot desert

• Saguro Cactus

• Water Retention:

  • Thick, waxy cuticle

• Water Gathering:

  • Shallow root system to gather rainwater

• Fennec Fox

• Heat dissipation:

  • Large and heavily vascularised ears

  • Nocturnal; days are spent in underground dens

• Water retention:

  • Kidneys reabsorb most water

  • Rarely urinate

Adaptations to life in tropical rainforest

Poison Dart frog → avoiding predators

• Warning coloration that act as a signal for predators to avoid colored frogs.

• Highly toxic chemicals in their skin from their diet of toxic insects.

Kapok tree → competition for light

• Abundant and varied plant growth lead to competition.

• Fast growing and very tall to access to more sunlight.

• Strong foundation from buttress roots to support rapid growth and very tall trunk with shallow soil.